Make a Flip Flop Gift Bag

I always hate to throw away gift bags from the store, so I try to recycle them when I can.  This bag I got from the Williams Sonoma Store and it was the perfect size.  

I needed to cover the logo, so I made each flip flop about half the width of the logo.

Here is my pattern.  If you copy it and paste it into your WORD program, then you can re-size it to the size that you need.

Then I folded a piece of scrapbook paper in half, drew my pattern on the back side, and cut out both flip flops at the same time:

After the flip flops were cut out, I poked a hole for the toe straps with a skewer stick.  I also used the skewer to poke the ribbon threw the holes:

Then I taped the ribbons to the back side of the flip flop and repeated the same procedure 

with the other flip flop:

Then I glued both flip flops onto the bag, making sure that I covered the logo:

Lastly I hot glued flowers in the toes and a rhinestone in the middle.  I think that it turned out cute and I saved a bag from the trash.

The back side I decorated a little different.  I just printed out a sign from microsoft Word and then glued some of the extra scrapbook paper around it to match the front. I also added a flower with a rhinestone.

Here are some other bags that I have done:

 I also found this fun project where a lady on smallforbig painted plain bags. I thought that they were so cute and colorful that I will have to try it. 

http://smallforbig.com/2013/09/diy-paperbag-paintings.html

 Just click on the link to see how she made them.

Here are some more fun flip flop centered projects:

Decorate flip flops with ribbon and beads:

http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2012/06/decorating-flip-flops-with-ribbon-and.html

Make a flip flop wreath:

http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2012/04/flip-flop-wreath.html

Here is another printable idea for your gift packages. Just click on the picture to get the free printable:

Father's Day Bread and Butter Pickles with Printout

This would make a great family project.  It is easy to do, plus the kids will get a kick of learning how to make pickles.  You could even put them on your Father's Day hamburgers!

My father loves bread and butter pickles, so when I saw a recipe on Pinterest I thought it would be a great idea to make him a batch.  It looked easy, and it was, BUT shopping for the smaller cucumbers and the mustard seed wasn't as easy as I thought.  With the help of a few friends, I was able to locate the items.  Food-4-less sells the smaller cucumbers.  Vons (and I heard Smiths) has the mustard seed.  Shame on Wal-mart and Winco for not carrying those items.


I followed the recipe, but was worried that they might not be sweet enough (you know those health nuts are always afraid of sugar) so I added a bit more sugar. I also substituted the pickling cucumbers for Persian Cucumbers because they are smaller.  Here is how I did it:


First slice them up. I like the wavy patterns on mine:

Then pour on the Kosher salt and put in the fridge for one hour:

Then rinse off the cucumbers and add the sliced onions.


Then follow the recipe to make the pickling sauce:

Pour the vinegar sauce over the top:

Let cool for one hour before storing in the fridge.


Put the pickles in an airtight container and refrigerate overnight. They should last about two weeks:

And here's my dad with his homemade jar of of pickles:

Here is my altered recipe:

Father's Day Bread and butter pickles

My friends and family tell me that they love them.  

My dad really loved them!

I just want to give a shout out to the original Bread and Butter Pickle recipe.  Here is where you can find it: http://www.recipegirl.com/2011/07/20/bread-and-butter-pickles/

Here is a printable to make for your Father's Day Bread and Butter Pickles.  

I also have a cute Father's Day card that you can make:

http://hollyshome-hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html

AND

I also have a cute Father's Day poem:

http://hollyshome-hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2011/06/fathers-day-poem.html 

May Luck Be With You on This St. Patrick's Day

I have been trying to learn how to do Photoshop.  While playing around I found this old picture that my daughter and I took at California Adventure in Bug's Life Land. 

The Bug's Land has since been replaced with the Marvel's Campus.

 They had huge clover's all over the park, but there is only one four leaf clover. 

When we found it we took this picture of it:

I was just playing around with the different applications and I came up with the next one. 

 It is very simple, but I liked it so I thought that I would post it just for giggles. 

Here it is:

May Luck Be With You!

I thought it would be a fun St. Patrick's Days post. 

Now that it's gone it's fun to have the memory of it in a photo.

I played around some more and made a another fun picture for St. Patrick's Day.  Here it is:

If you are looking for some fun St. Patrick's Day ideas just click here!